Vented steam iron with burpavoiding feature



J. J. KUESER 3,418,736

VENTED STEAM IRON WITH BURP-AVOIDING FEATURE Dec. 31, 1968 Filed April 17, 1967 M 5 E E d w 0 d ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oil Free 3,418,736 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE caused by the to and fro motion of the iron when being operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved steam iron and it particularly relates to a steam iron which avoids spurtng of water from the iron through the water inlet opening under the force of steam or air captured by the water.

When the water in the reservoir of a steam iron overheats and the iron is moved back and forth in the horizontal ironing position, then, especially at the end of a forward horizontal ironing stroke, the water sloshes to a forward position in the reservoir. While in this position, the Water surges, closing off the reservoir entrance in the handle of the iron. When this occurs, the air in the reservoir at the lower rear end of the reservoir is trapped behind the surge of water. This air expands rapidly due to the presence of excessive heat especially at the lower wall of the reservoir which is near the heating elements. Expanding steam also fills this air cavity. The rapid expansion of air and steam tends to force the Water still further forward and up through the fill path or entrance to the reservoir so that hot water gushes out in a considerable amount from the front of the iron. This burping or spurting effect is a serious disadvantage in ironing. For example, certain kinds of material are permanently damaged by hot Water spotting of the material, or the operator of the iron might be scalded by the hot water.

To overcome the burping effect, it has been suggested to vent the reservoir into the water entrance conduit which leads to the reservoir. However, venting by this method is of no benefit when the water in the reservoir surges up into the entrance conduit to a level which is above that of the reservoir vent outlet at the entrance conduit. When this occurs, the vent outlet is closed off by the surging water. This occurs frequently and results in pronounced spurting of hot water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a principal aspect, the present invention takes the form of an improvement in steam irons of the type having a hollow conduit connecting a distal portion of the steam iron water reservoir with the reservoir water entrance means. In accordance with the invention, the conduit is extended upwardly such that it terminates in the water entrance opening at a position above any water surge level when the iron is in an operative position. This substantially avoids the burping or spurting previously encountered in steam irons.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved burp-avoiding steam iron.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved burp-avoiding steam iron which may be integrated with water level gauges common in previously known steam irons.

These and further purposes, features, and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A particular embodiment of the present invention is illusrate'd in the accompanying figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectioned, elevational view of a steam iron including the burp-preventing device;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the steam iron 10 is provided with a soleplate 12 having openings (not shown) therein permitting the passage of steam therethrough. A metal housing 16 is secured in a suitable manner to the soleplate 12 and encloses a water storage tank or reservoir 18 and iron heating means (not shown). The housing 16 is secured in a suitable manner to a handle assembly 20 which includes a hollow front support post indicated generally at 22. A water inlet or entrance 24, which opens onto the forward face of post 22, communicates with the upper end of a cylin'drically shaped cavity or opening 28 which extends downwardly through support post 22. The lower end of opening 28 terminates at a channel 30 which connects the opening 28 to the reservoir 18. A suitable seal (not shown) is provided between the channel 30 and the reservoir 18 in order to substantially avoid the leaking of water therethrough.

Generation of steam by the iron 10 is accomplished when water passes from the reservoir 18 through the reservoir outlet 32 and into the steam generation space (not shown) situated between the reservoir 18 and the soleplate 12. Control means (not shown) regulate the passage of water from the reservoir 18 through the reservoir outlet 32 into the steam generating space. Generated steam passes outwardly through steam openings (not shown) in the soleplate 12. The heating means (not shown) for generating steam in the steam generation space are operative when the iron 10 is turned on. However, the generation of steam is dependent upon the passage of water through the reservoir outlet. 32. When no water passes through the outlet 32, no steam is formed. However, the heating means (not shown), still being operative, heat the water in the reservoir 18 by means of convection and conduction through the steam generation space 34. Likewise, when the iron is in an upright, inoperative position, no steam is generated in the steam generation space 34, and consequently the water in the reservoir 18 is heated to near the boiling point.

When the iron 10 is put in a horizontal, operative position and moved to and fro in a horizontal plane, the water in the reservoir 18 sloshes and tends to surge to the forward end of the reservoir 18, especially at the end of a forward stroke of the horizontal motion. Normally, the water is at a constant level in the reservoir 18 and any steam generated in the reservoir 18 can escape from the confines of the reservoir 18 through the channel 30, the opening 28, and out into the atmosphere through the entrance 24.

However, when the water surges forward, as shown at 50 in FIG. 1, the channel 30 is blocked by the surge 50. Steam is still created and hot air expands in the back portion of the reservoir 18, namely in the area 48. If there are no vent means from the area 48, then pressure builds up in that area 48 and tends to force water out through the channel 30, the opening 28 and the entrance 24 in a spurt,

or what is more commonly known as a burp.

The improvement, generally indicated at 38, includes the tubular or condiut member 40, an elbow fitting 42 and an extension 44. The tubular member 40 may be constructed of any suitable, relatively high heat resistant material, for example, high temperature'glass such as ortho silicate glass, or various high temperature plastics such as polycarbonate thermal plastic material. The elbow fitting 42 connects the tubular member 40 to the upper rear end 46 of the tank 18. The tubular member 40 extends through the hollow front support post 22 and is connected to or integrally molded with the extension 44 which extends upwardly into the opening 28. The extension 44 is situated at a level in the opening 28 such that it will remain connected to the atmosphere and above almost any ultimate surge of the water, generally indicated at 56. In other words, the extension terminates adjacent the inlet 24 near the top of the opening 28.

With no vent means, a surge to the level shown in FIG. 1, namely 52, would cause the burp effect. With a vent means as disclosed by Knapp in US. Patent No. 3,251,148 which passes straight through the hollow front support post 22, a surge to the level generally indicated at 54 would cause a burp efiect. A surge to the level shown at 54 is quite common.

The improved device 38, eliminates substantially all burping or spurting since the water surge very rarely extends beyond the top 45 of the extension 44. Thus, the vent or improvement 38 is normally always open to the atmosphere so that steam and hot air can escape.

Terminating inside the cavity has the salutory result that any water entrapped in the device 38 and forced out of the device 38 by pressure from the region 48 will fall within the opening 28 and run back into the tank 18. Furthermore, the steam will tend to cool and condense into water vapor within the opening 28 and not rush out of the water inlet 24 which it could condense and spot material or scald someone.

The upward extension 44 besides extending above almost any ultimate surge 56, may provide a head or back pressure which counteracts the pressure in the area 18. This head exists because water may become entrapped in the reservoir or member 38 between the upper rear end 46 of the tank 18 and the top 45 of the extension 44. The head tends to force the hot air and steam back into the tank 18.

It should be noted that the improvement generally at 38 may be a reservoir area integrally molded in the handle 20 which is vented near the top of the opening 28. Likewise, the upward extension 44 may be molded into the hollow front support post 22, Thus, the entire burppreventing device or parts thereof can be integrally molded into the handle 20. On the other hand the device generally shown at 38 may be integrated with a water level gauge. The drawing indicates a water level gauge with the improved burp-preventing feature incorporated therein. In such a case, the tubular member 40 is transparent and situated adjacent to the handle 20. The device 38 is vented to the atmosphere through the opening 28 and the entrance 24. In a burp-preventing water level gauge device, vent means to counteract pressure build-up in the reservoir 18 not only prevent spurting but also provide an atmospheric vent means at all times to the water level gauge to insure that the gauge pressure is a true reading.

While in the foregoing, there has been provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam iron of the type having a water reservoir with upright unobstructed water-entrance means leading downwardly from an open inlet at the forward end of the iron and through which water from the reservoir is susceptible of being burped by being spurted outwardly of the iron under pressure of heated air or steam trapped in the reservoir, and conduit means communicating said entrance means with a distal portion of said reservoir, the improvement of an anti-bnrping means comprising, in combination, an elongated conduit having an elongated portion extending from adjacent a first end of the conduit, which connects to the distal portion of the reservoir, to the entrance means along a longitudinal run located wholly below the level to which water would surge into the entrance means during an ironing operation, and the other end of the conduit projecting within said entrance means upwardly from said longitudinal run to a point adjacent the open inlet and above the maximum level to which water would surge into the entrance means when the iron is being used.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,146,540 9/ 1964 Pagan. 3,224,122 12/1965 Jepson et a1. 3,251,148 5/1966 Knapp.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

